Shoulder pad construction



May 11, 1948. E. D. GERRY 2,441,482

SHOULDER PAD CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 8. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 46K577 12 GERRY INVENTOR.

May 11, 1948.

E. D. GERRY SHQULDER PAD CONS TRUCT ION Filed Oct. 8. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EVERETTP. GEEK) INVENTOR.

Patented May 11, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE snowmen ran CONSTRUCTION Everett D. Gerry, New York, N. Y. Application October 8, 1947, Serial No. 778,535

Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to removable shoulder pads, but more specifically to a shoulder pad casing secured to a resilient and pliable material. v

The main object of the invention resides in the provision of a light, resilient and durable shoulder pad assembly provided with fastening means engageable with cooperating fastening elements secured to a plurality of garments whereby a single pair of such shoulder pads are capable of use for a possible entire wardrobe.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a shoulder pad assembly wherein the fastening elements are secured to a wall of the casing before integration with the other walls thereof to completely enclose and form-a permanent andclosed jacket for the shoulder pad core.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a combination of an integrated resilient and durable shoulder pad assembly provided with fastening members and the shoulder portion of a garment adapted to have secured thereto a fastening tape for said fastening members, a pair of shoulder pad assemblies and a plurality of fastening tapes forming aunit so that said pair of pad assemblies and plurality of tapes are capable of accommodating an entire wardrobe.

Other objects of the invention reside in the efficiency, economy of manufacture, durability and sanitation'of the shoulder pad, the subject matter of the invention herein.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention wil-lhereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification are drawings showing a preferred form of the invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the shoulder pad assembly and of a fastening tape shown in spaced relation thereto and adapted to be stitched into the shoulder of the garment, said tape serving as cooperating fastening means with the fasteners on the shoulder pad casing.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of F18- ure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing detached and attached casing elements for the core of the shoulder pad and wherein an end wall is shown as already secured to the top wall of the casing, the top wall being provided with fastening elements.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the app arance of one of the shoulder pad assemblies as attached to the garment and another assembly shown with the shoulder of the garment broken and extended to illustrate the detachable engaging means between the garment shoulder and the pad assembly.

In accordance with the invention and the preferred form shown, numeral i0 indicates generally a garment such as the upper part of a ladies dress, blouse, coat or other garment type but as shown specifically indicates a dress. The shoulder portion ll adjacent the yoke at the upper portion of the armhole region is shown in Figure 4 to be provided with a shoulder pad assembly detachably aflixed thereto.

The shoulder pad assembly in accordance with the invention herein comprises a core i2 having resilient and pliable characteristics such as sponge rubber, air treated plastic material and the like. Core l2 as shown is of a general triangular shape having an arched base l3 tapering from the mid portion thereof to the ends, the upper and lower curved walls H and is of the core also tapering toward the side and rear edges of the core as indicated by numerals l6 and i1. Edges l6 and I1 taper rearwardly to an apex I 8. Core I2 is preshaped in accordance with the above described shape before being enclosed in a completely closed jacket or casing and is provided with fastening. elements for removable attachment to the shoulder portion of the garments.

The jacket or casing is comprised of a top panel 20, a bottom panel 2| and a base panel or gusset 22 (the gusset may be an integral extension of either the top or bottom panel), all of said P nels being stitched together at least around and adjacent the lower edges of core l2 and resulting in a peripheral flap 23. In forming the jacket or casing for core l2 and introducing thereon the fastening elements to engage with co-operating fastening elements on the fastening tape adapted to be stitched to the inner wall of the shoulder of the garment, the best procedure includes the attachment of top panel 20 to the base panel 22 by means of a line of stitching 24, said line of stitching being adapted to lie along the upper edge of the core base [3. Base panel 22 is crescent-shaped to accommodate the base member ll of core l2 while the top panel 20 tapers rearwardly to form a rounded end to sit on the upper wall ll of core l2. The base edge of panel 20 is secured to the upper edge of the base panel 22 as by a line of stitching 24 as has been mentioned. Thereafter a tape section 25 is stitched to the underside of panel 20 along the medial portion of panel 22 as by lines of stitchin: 26 and then a pair of male snap fasteners 21 are stamped between lines of stitching 23 to said panel. Thereafter panel 2| similar in shape to panel 20 and at the base thereof is secured to the base of panel 22 as by a line of stitching 2! and core l2 inserted against panel 22 and between panels 22 and 2|. Then a continuous line of stitching 29 around the side and rear edges of panels 2|! and 2i securing the sides of said panels stitching 33 in the conventional way so that the shoulder pad at fasteners 21 may be easily secured and removed from the tape fasteners 32. Thus, one pair of shoulder pads may be applied to an entire wardrobe provided each garment is provided with fastening tapes secured to the inner walls 34 of shoulder portions II. In connection with the gusset panel 22, it is understood that this may be an extension of panel and stitched to the bottom panel 2! as at stitching 28.

In the sale of the combination, a pair of shoulder pad assemblies and a package of fastening tapes of any desired number are provided to accommodate a complete wardrobe, each of the tapes 3| being secured to the inner walls 34 of the garment shoulder portions II. For washing and cleaning purposes, the pad assemblies are detached from the tapes secured to the garments.

I wish it understood that minor changes and variations in the material, integration of parts and location of elements may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoulder pad assembly for the shoulders of garments comprising an integral and curvilinearly preshaped resilient core member of varying thickness along the intersecting axes thereof, a jacket to completely enclose said core, fastening means on the upper wall of the jacket and a tape member carrying cooperating fastening means and secured to the shoulder of the garment for removal engagement with the first mentioned fastening means.

2. A shoulder pad assembly for the shoulders of garments comprising a preshaped resilient and pliable core, a jacket to completely enclose said core, fastening means on the upper wall of the jacket and a tape member carrying cooperating fastening means and secured to the shoulder of the garment for removable engagement with the first mentioned fastening means.

3. A shoulder pad assembly for the shoulders of garments comprising a preshaped resilient and pliable core, cover walls secured together adjacent the edges of said core member and completely enclosing the same, fastening means on the upper of said walls and a tape member carrying cooperating fastening means and secured to the shoulder of the garment for removable engagement with the first mentioned fastenin means.

4. A shoulder pad assembly for the shoulders of garments comprising a resilient core having an arched base member tapering toward the ends thereof and having a body member of varying thickness along the intersecting axes thereof, cover walls for said core secured together adjacent all the edges of the core and enclosing the same, the upper of said walls having a reinforcing member on the underside, fastening means penetrating said upper wall and reinforcing member, and a tape member carrying cooperating fastening means and secured to the shoulder of the garment for removable engagement with the first mentioned fastening means.

5. A shoulder pad assembly for the shoulders of garments comprising a resilient core member, a cover therefor comprising a base wall, an upper wall and a lower wall to completely enclose said core member, the upper wall having a reinforcing member secured to the underside thereof, fastening means penetrating said reinforcing member and the upper wall, and a tape member carrying cooperating fastening means secured to the shoulder of the garment for removable engagement with the first mentioned fastening means.

EVERETT D. GERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,413,526 Solomon Dec. 31, 1946 2,436,054 Pinkus Feb. 17, 1948 

